Validation of the Modified Helkimo Clinical Index for Diagnosing Temporomandibular Disorders in a Romanian Patient Sample

<b>Background and objectives:</b> Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are common but challenging to diagnose in routine practice due to the complexity of the DC/TMD protocol. The study assesses the diagnostic validity and reliability of the modified Helkimo Index (mHI) in a Romanian patient cohort. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional study of 164 participants (82 TMD patients, 82 controls) evaluated the diagnostic performance and reliability of the mHI against the DC/TMD protocol. <b>Results</b>: The mHI demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity 86%, specificity 84%, AUC = 0.89) and strong agreement with DC/TMD diagnoses (r = 0.83, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Reliability was excellent (inter-examiner ICC = 0.87; intra-examiner ICC = 0.91). Application time was significantly shorter (5-10 min) than the DC/TMD protocol (16-20 min). <b>Conclusions:</b> The mHI is a valid, reliable, and time-efficient tool for TMD diagnosis, supporting its integration into general dental practice and broader screening initiatives.